Automatic coupling for electrical conductors.



PATENTED 0GT.'13, 1903.

G. MAI-ION. AUTOMATIC COUPLING FOR ELECTRICAL GONDUGTORS.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 4, .1902. RENEWED. FEB, 10,1903.

N0 MODEL.

No. 741,052. Patented October 13, 1903.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES MAI-ION, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AsSIc OR TO MINNA LncARE MAHO OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

AUTOMATIC COUPLING FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 741,052, dated October 13, 1903. Application filed January 4, 1902. Renewed February 10, 1903. Serial No. 142,803. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom zltmay concern pled, and Fig. 4 is a section view through the Be it known that I, CHARLES MAHON, a citiline l 4 of Fig. 1. zen of the United States, residing at Wash- As above stated, the invention is designed ington, in the District of Columbia, have inlargely for use in connection with cars and as 5 vented certain new and useful Improvements such is adapted to successfully render useful in Automatic Couplers for Electrical Conelectrical apparatus in signaling from the ductors; and I do hereby declare the followcars to the engine and in automatically siging to be a full, clear, and exact description nalingOractuatingalarmsupon theaccidental of the invention, such as will enable others breaking of the train or severing of the coupto skilled in the art to which it appertains to ling connection. Many systems for electric make and use the same. train signaling have been heretofore sug- This invention relates to an improvement gested; but the objections to their use have in automatic couplers for electrical condu c largely been in the lack of proper economical tors, especiallysnch as are intended for coupand successful means of perfecting the coup- I5 ling electric conductors on adjacentcars; and ling 0f the conductors. In most cases such it is embodied in the construction and arcouplinghas been effected by hand manipurangement of parts presently to be described, lation. In other cases automatic couplers and defined in the claims. have been suggested; but in all cases, so far The purpose of the present invention is to as I am advised, no automatic coupler has 7c 20 provide an automatic coupler for electrical been suggested which would meet the genconductors which will overcome the objeceral requirementsoftrain-service. My inven tions existing in automatic couplers heretotion is designed to accomplish this important fore suggested and which will successfully purpose. and satisfactorily meet the general require- The construction, as illustrated in the 210- 7-5 25 ments incident to use in trainrservice. companying drawings, comprises conven- A further object of the invention is the proiently twin membersAandRand each member vision of an automatic electrical coupler is constructed ofasingleblockof wood orother which in the act of coupling and uncoupling insulating'material having one of its side will both make and break positive electrical faces or surfaces fashioned straight through- 30 contacts, so'that an operative contact will out, as at a. On these surfaces are secured be maintained between leads on adjacent fiat metallic plates 0, which form terminals cars and a broken Contact between the leads of electrical conductors D,the union between on individual carsand when the cars are unthe conductors and terminals being effected coupled the breaking of the Contact between in any convenient manner, such as a secur- 5 the leads of adjacent cars will result in the ing-screw and washer b. The opposite side completion or making of a contact between of the insulating-support is cut away, as the leads on the individual Or detached car shown, the faces of the tongue or cut-away and also form a closed Contact between the portion being curved from the outermost end leads on the'end car of the remaining portion in a substantially ogee curve, leaving what 0 40 of the uncoupled cars of the train. 7 be stated, in effect, a depression E interme- In the accompanying drawings I have diate the" ends oft-he reduced portion and an shown a device embodying the invention; inclined outer surface or end portion. This but the general features and special arrangereduced curved surface is Wholly of the inment of parts can be varied in many respects sulated material.

5 without departing from the principle and na- F designates springs of extended width,

ture of the invention. their innermost portions being flat and se- In said drawings,.Figure l is a plan view cured to the insulated blocks Opposite the showing the members coupled. Fig. 2 is a plates C. These spring members form terview showing the members uncoupled. Fig. minals of the other leads D of the'electrical 0 3 is a perspective view showing the members circuit and are movable relative to the fixed broken away and the two members uncouterminals C. The outermost ends of these springs or plates F project over the curved side faces of the blocks and are curved or bowed inwardly, and their tension is such as to normally carry the springs or bowed portions into contact with the curved surface of the reduced tongue or end portion of the blocks. Theextremeouterendsofthesprings are curved outwardly to a point beyond the plane of the side of the insulating-block or carrier. The width of the springs is conveniently substantially that of the blocks.

Located in the reduced portions of the blocks or carriers are terminal members consisting of the :metallic contact-pins H, the

outer ends of which rest against the plates 0, while the inner ends project into the recess E, for purposes presently to be stated. A suitable wear-plate h may be applied between the recess and ends of the tongues.

In use the construction and position of the springs and end of the carrier is such as to leave a substantially V-shaped space. The couplers on adjacent ends of two cars are arranged in opposite relation to each other,and when the cars carrying the carriers or insulating-blocks are brought together the opposite ends of the twin blocks will enter the V- shaped spaces, lifting the bowed-spring contacts and permitting an interlocking of the opposite curved surfaces of the members, a portion of each tongue entering the depression of the other. When so interposed intermediate the terminals, the twin-block insulating members of course open the circuit between the adjacent terminals D D of one coupler and establish circuits between the terminal D of each coupler and terminal D of the other. While in this position the curved springs rest forcibly on the sides of the plates 0, thereby forming an electrical contact of wide area. When the cars carrying the couplers are separated, the curved springs immediately snap down into contact with the interposed terminal pin H, thus completing the electric circuit through the pins as conductors. This is important in that an accidental breaking of the train will close the circuit on the broken section or individual cars, if it be such, and by well-known mechanism sound an alarm. It will be seen that the particular construction of the members is such that when they are arranged in opposite direction it will require but a single coupler at each end of the car in a manner similar to that of the ordinary car-coupler. It will also be observed that owing to the extended surface and the peculiar construction'of the couplers the two members can be moved to different angles relative to each other without breaking the electrical contact between the terminals. In turning curves the members are permitted a relative transverse movement by the particular construction of the bowed springs. Such movement will simply change the point of contact slightly between the springs and their contact-plates, but will not break the contact.

While the invention is particularly adapted for train-service, it maybe used for other purposes.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. A coupling member for electrical conductors, consisting of an insulating carrierblock having'a reduced end portion, formed with a plane outer surface and a curved inner surface, a fixed terminal on the plane surface and a yielding spring-terminal on the opposite side of the block projecting over the curved surface of the reduced end portion, substantially as described.

2. A coupling member for electrical conductors, consisting of an insulating carrierblock having a reduced end portion, formed with a plane outer surface and a curved inner surface, a fixed terminal on the plane surface and a yielding spring-terminal on the opposite side of the block projecting over the curved surface of the reduced end portion and curved away from it at its outer end, and a conducting member connected to the fixed plate adapted to be engaged by the yielding, spring member, substantially as described.

3. A coupling member for electrical conductors, consisting of an insulating carrierblock having a reduced end portion, formed with a plane outer surface and a curved inner surface, provided with a wear-plate, a fixed terminal on the plane surface and a yielding spring-terminal on the opposite side of the block projecting over the curved surface of the reduced end portion andcurved away from it at its outer end, and a conducting member connected to the fixed plate adapted to be engaged by the yielding spring member, substantially as described.

4. A coupling member for electrical conductors, consisting of an insulating carrierblock having a reduced end portion, formed with a plane outer surface and a curved inner surface, adapted to interlock with the curved surface of a complementary reduced end portion, a fixed terminal plate on the plane surface and a yielding spring-terminal on the opposite side of the block projecting over the curved surface of the reduced end portion and curved away from it at its outer end, and a conducting member connected to the fixed plate adapted to be engaged by the yielding spring member, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES MAHON.

Witnesses:

FANNY L. MAHoN, CORNELIA C. MILLER. 

